Birmingham went two goals down at Stoke City, but came back to equalise with a shot from Fahey and a glancing header by Jerome from a Larsson cross, and Gardner forced two saves from Asmir Begović. Stoke manager Tony Pulis had spoken out before the game about referees' decisions repeatedly going against them; this time, match referee Mark Clattenburg failed to notice a handball in the build-up to Dean Whitehead's winning goal for the home side. The defending improved at Manchester City. The nearest the home side came to scoring was when Carlos Tevez handled the ball into the net and when Foster blocked a James Milner shot and man-of-the-match Stephen Carr cleared the rebound off the line. Bowyer, replacing the injured Gardner, stole unmarked into the penalty area to meet a Jerome knockdown and take a 17th-minute lead at home to Chelsea. Thereafter, Foster, criticised for his performance for England against France in midweek but now "defiance personified," made numerous saves including one where he "somehow clawed out a Didier Drogba header that was flying in the far corner," as Chelsea failed to score from 32 shots at goal. Away at Fulham, Hleb made a strong run through midfield to the penalty area and played a pinpoint pass which gave the onrushing Larsson time to set himself and pass the ball into the net for his first goal of the season. After Clint Dempsey arguably climbed on Fahey's shoulders to head the equaliser, Birmingham came close to regaining the lead when Dann's header from a Larsson cross hit the bar, but lost Hleb to a hamstring injury. December Gardner was central to Birmingham achieving a draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Sébastien Bassong scored after Foster failed to deal with Gareth Bale's free kick, but the introduction of Žigić, a hero after scoring the winner against Aston Villa in the League Cup quarter-final in the week, made the difference. Ridgewell's powerful shot was blocked by Heurelho Gomes' groin, before Johnson's long ball found Žigić, who headed into the penalty area for Gardner to head home after a well-timed run. Speaking after the 1–0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers, McLeish said, "We didn't turn up at all for the first 60 minutes. We were outfought and then had a go. We need to start games the way we finish them." The visit of Newcastle United on 18 December was a late